HOW TO APPLY FOR FREE AND LOW-COST MEALS AT SCHOOL

HOW TO APPLY FOR FREE AND LOW-COST MEALS AT SCHOOL

By Z107.7 News, on August 12th, 2014

The federal government provides free or reduced meals for students. There are several ways that public school students can qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school. Households that receive food stamps, CalWORKS, Kin-GAP or FDPIR benefits may not have to complete a separate application. Instead, school officials will use documentation they get directly from those agencies about families, and will notify such households directly. However, households who are part of these programs but who hadn’t been notified of their eligibility by August 10, should complete the standard application. Other families may apply and be evaluated based upon household size and income. For example, in a household of four people, children are eligible for free lunch, breakfast, and milk if the annual household income is less than $31,005. The ceiling goes up nearly $5,300 for each additional household member. For reduced-price food, the family-of-four annual income ceiling is $44,123, and goes up more than $7,500 for each extra person. Applications are available online at www.morongo.k12.ca.us or at schools or other Morongo Unified School District sites. You can apply at any time during the school year. Eligibility for a foster child is based on a separate application, and depends upon the child’s “personal use” income.